FUEL CONSUMPTION: THE TRUE STORY

Vehicle testing methods must be refined, to gain a closer correlation with customers' demands. This paper presents an approach to testing which uses real-world customer data to examine more closely how a given vehicle model is used by different customer groups in different countries. The data are collected in small and unobtrusive data loggers installed in customer vehicles. A database of real customer usage is generated, because the customers are unaware of the data acquisition process and use their vehicles normally. The acquired signals are time-based, giving the maximum ability to answer questions about vehicle usage. Special cycles have been designed for fuel consumption tests, which should represent typical driving situations and load profiles and, often the basis for establishing official vehicle specifications about fuel consumption and emissions. In the tests presented here, the RAMbox was used as the optimal instrumentation, and its data logistics and results are presented. It was found that fuel consumption for specific models was higher in Germany than elsewhere in Europe. German drivers used low gears more, showing more aggression and higher traffic density. Real customer cycles differ greatly from legal and other test cycles, and few consume fuel according to the predictions of EU Directive EEC93/116.EC.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14618966
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  120 South Street
  Dorking, Surrey RH4 2EU,   England 
• Authors:
  • LUDES, R
  • LORENTZEN, R
  • BRINDLEY, P
• Publication Date: 2000-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 26-9
• Serial:
  • TESTING TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: UK and International Press
  • ISSN: 1461-8966

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data banks; Data collection; Drivers; Driving; Forecasting; Fuel consumption; Improvements; International; Legislation; Measuring instruments; Test procedures; Vehicle compartments; Vehicle interiors; Vehicles
• Identifier Terms: European Union
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• ITRD Terms: 6155: Apparatus (measuring); 8623: Data acquisition; 8614: Database; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 8303: EU; 132: Forecast; 232: Fuel consumption; 8125: Germany; 9108: Improvement; 1377: Interior (veh); 9034: International; 1556: Legislation; 6288: Test method; 9084: Use; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Energy; Law; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795092
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM